Grading Area Points	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor	Score
Structure and Format 1-15 pts	Completely follows MLA style, format requirements, and uses IN-TEXT citations for every idea that is outside	Had minor problems following MLA style, format, requirements and uses IN-TEXT citations for most outside ideas.	Had major problems following MLA style, format requirements and uses IN-TEXT citations for few outside ideas.	Does not follow MLA style, format requirements and does not use IN-TEXT citation for outside ideas.
Logic, Organization and Language 1-20 pts	Develops ideas cogently, organizes them logically with paragraphs and uses transitions effectively. Uses a clear and concise introduction and conclusion. Uses words and sentences that have a balance of sentence structure.	Develops unified and coherent ideas within paragraphs with adequate transition and overall clear in organization. Good introduction and conclusion. Use of words and sentences are mostly balanced. The presence of a few errors in not distracting.	Develops and organizes ideas in paragraphs that are not necessarily connected. Some overall organization, but some ideas seem illogical and unrelated. Introductions and conclusion is not clear. Word forms and sentence structures convey meaning. Errors cause distraction.	Does not develop ideas, uneven and ineffective overall organization, unclear introduction and conclusion. Overall, the ideas are illogical and unrelated. Errors are seriously distracting.
Answers to questions. 1-40 pts	Explores answers vigorously, Supports own points fully using a balance of subjective and objective evidence, and reasons effectively.	Supports most answers with effective examples, references, and details makes key distinctions.	Presents answers in general terms, support for ideas is inconsistent, some distinctions need clarification, reasoning is unclear.	Most answers unsupported, much confusion between personal and external evidence, reasoning flawed.
Spelling and Grammar 1-10 pts	The writing is error free in terms of grammar and spelling.	Minor errors, but overall structure is sound. Obviously has been proofread.	Frequent errors in spelling and grammar distract the reader.	Writing contains numerous errors in spelling and grammar which interfere with comprehension.
References and Works Cited 1-15 pts	Uses at least three references.	Uses at least 2 references.	Presence of one reference.	No references used.
				Score